BlackBerryOS 4.0: Promising Videogame capabilities.
 

Using BlackBerryOS 4.0 here;

BlackBerryOS 4.0 has a subset of MIDP 2.0 (part of it) -- including videogame API's. The enhancements are obvious in the BrickBreaker software, and I downloaded the test software on my BlackBerry from http://mobu.com/wap ... and the Download test worked for my BlackBerry with a crude 3D vector graphics demo that seemed to run at about 15-20 frames per second. Running on my 7280.

I am tempted to purchase a few videogames from www.mobu.com and "masquerade" as a certain Nokia/Motorola phone or some other java capable phone with 240x160 screen, to see if I can get any of those games working on my BlackBerry:

http://www.mobu.com/?cat=apps&miId=12533

http://www.mobu.com/?cat=apps&miId=12560

I know 240x160 midlets run in the center of the BlackBerry screen. If anyone wants to "waste" 4.99 euros on testing some videogames under BlackBerryOS 4.0 (preferably build 4.0.0.124), please feel free to do so and let me know what your results are.

I am 80% sure that at least some of the games will work; some of them are just generic MIDP 2.0 midlets that only use the gaming API's. Of course, websites such as mobu will no doubt include support for 7100v very soon later this year.

There is indeed, a much better videogaming API available in BlackBerryOS 4.0 as it seems that some nice fancy graphics demos actually work.

I also downloaded JBenchmark2 Benchmark Demo (J2ME MIDP/2.0) from JBenchmark.com

http://www.jbenchmark.com/jb2.jpg

It actually works partially on my BlackBerry 7280 does now support at least some J2ME MIDP 2.0 videogaming API's, as far as this benchmark demo is concerned! Some sequences ran fine at 15-20 frames per second but unfortunately some sequences were very slow (including the one above) at 0.4 frames per second. I saw some 3D graphics of a chess piece, then later, it displayed "Uncaught exception: Multiple change listeners not allowed".

In either case, it is an improvement in videogaming support over the older BlackBerryOS 3.7. Framerate may be a bit low for certain types of games though!

I think the 7100 series will be much better gaming phones though due to their screen form factor, keypad, and probably better performance.

Image resizing test - 2.1 fps
Continually scrolling text test - Between 6 and 15fps
Scroller videogame test - 0.6fps
3D graphics of chess piece spinning test - 0.4fps
Fifth graphics test - Uncaught exception: Multiple change listeners not allowed

Have they fixed this app so it runs all the way on the 7100 yet?